The United States Supreme Court has agreed to consider Donald Trump’s immunity claim on an “expedited basis”. The Supreme Court has never squarely resolved whether a president’s in-term conduct is immune from criminal prosecution. In the past, the Court has ruled that official acts immunity does protect former presidents against damages in civil cases. The basic question for the Court here is whether Mr. Trump’s extramural efforts to remain in office, after his loss in the 2020 election, were “official acts”. More simply put, the Court must decide if Mr. Trump was acting as an “officeholder” , in order to get the protection of official acts immunity. In rejecting his immunity claim, the lower appellate court has already held that Mr. Trump was acting as an “officeseeker”, not an “officeholder”. A decision in the case s expected by summer 2024.
Special Counsel Appointed in Trump Investigations
On November 18, 2022, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Jack Smith, a long time federal prosecutor, as special counsel to lead two criminal investigations involving former President Donald Trump. Mr. Garland made that announcement after Donald Trump...
